Gloria Acker Dodson

     After attending Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, I married Jim Dodson. We had two children in the following two years, Clark, now 37 and Cindy, 36. We resided in Portland for about 5 years.
     We lived in Seattle for about 10 years. In 1968 we went to Colombia, South America where my husband taught. We lived 1½ years in a small city named Popayan, of around 100,000 people, where Jim taught at the University. We then lived in Cali, a city of 1 million people and Jim taught at University de Santiago and was Athletic Director at the Bolivar American High School. We went to Colombia as teaching missionaries so that was really our main work. We had so many wild adventures it would take a book to write it all down - something I plan to do if my life ever slows down. We were surprised by the birth of our third child, a son, Blair, when we were 40 and 43. We decided it was best to raise our new offspring back in the USA. We arrived in Beaverton, Oregon with two late teenagers, 5 trunks of mementos, one dog, and a 6 months old baby, in the summer of 1973.
     Our older children have since married and blessed us with 5 beautiful grandchildren, ages 6-16. our son Blair will graduate from Palm Springs High School this June. We have been raising children for 38 years straight in September. Our children and grandchildren are very important in our lives.
     When we lived in Beaverton I became seriously interested in the use of herbs. We became aware of their value while living in South America. In a short time what started as a hobby became a business. During eight years it became extremely good.
     We had been wanting to relocate in the Palm Springs, California area.  My parents retired there in 1974. Our daughter married a California boy and they, and their three children all lived here.
     In 1984, we decided to try the herb business in Cathedral City, which is a suburb of Palm Springs. My mother has an art studio there. There was a little apartment, which we converted into a shop. The first year Jim taught school, drove tour buses to keep out fledgling business afloat. We still had our shop in Beaverton and property there. When all was well here, we sold up there. By our third year the business was booming. Now it's history. We had a cleanse that we called The Chinese Cleanse that we developed. The largest herb company in the world has taken it as one of their products. It went right to the top in sales. We have taught and trained quite a few people to do the same work we do. We have 10 people that we have put out into other shops. Our original one in Beaverton is booming as is one that deals strictly with Spanish speaking people. We have a new batch of people that we are now teaching. One is our youngest son, Blair, who is being groomed to take over the business.
     I would have to sum up the last 40 years of my life as full, happy, busy, adventurous and lots of teaching and helping others. Best regards.

Gloria Alvarez Reeson

     Most of my time  was taken up raising my six children, who now range in ages from 28 to 39, two girls and four boys, the one girl being the oldest and the other one is the youngest. I have 15 grandchildren, and in July I will be a great-grandmother.
     I was divorced after 27 years, but remarried again just 3 years ago. I went with him for nine years. It is really better the second time around.
     We love camping and fishing trips. We were caretakers for four years at Wynooche Wildwood outside of Montesano, but it took too much time and we really couldn't enjoy our own lot or summers, so we just retired and we enjoy every minute of it. Of course, I still baby sit occasionally with my grandchildren, we really enjoy them, the oldest is 18 and the youngest is 10 months.

Emmett D. (Dyke) Anderson

     Played at Grays Harbor College for awhile, headed for 2 years active duty in the Navy, (got to know San Diego and Tijuana very well!) Back to Grays Harbor College - married for the first time, in 1956 to Dixie Coomes.
     Did the family mill scene in Raymond for a year then split for the wilds of Canada, ending up in Ashcroft/Cache Creek area, the interior of British Columbia.
     During the course of next 23 years, I logged toothpicks (in comparison to our Northwest timber), then started a trucking company which progressed into a Redi-Mix and construction company. Sold business interests in 1973, (just in time).
     Went free-lance trucking - the only way to go - for the next 7 years. Saw the rest of B.C., Alberta, Yukon and Northwest Territories. Moved south of the border in 1980 - found a 12 acre spread on the water in Shelton, Washington.
     Brought Canadian interests with me - a red-headed Canuck and daughters. Thought I was going to retire, however, acquired a 146-acre ranch to grow Christmas trees (Satsop). Big mistake - so much for retiring, and life goes on!
     Still driving the '41 Buick Roadmaster.

Greta Anderson Dickes

     I haven't figured out yet what I have been doing for 40 years. It isn't possible 40 years have gone by.
     Les retired from 45 years of mechanics. I changed jobs after 20 years meat wrapping. We are in the process of buying a Texaco Food Mart. I still cater on the side.
     Our two girls are grown and happily married, they have given us 4 grandchildren. They are the joy of our lives.
     I still play in the Symphony (40 years). Work out at the Gayle Russell Dance Academy. I did lay off the dancing and working out for 6 months while I went through 6 months of chemotherapy for cancer. None Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I got a clean bill of health in April of this year. I'm just happy to be alive and smelling the flowers.

John M. Apple

     After graduating from Western, I taught in the Camas School District for 30 years.
     As for hobbies, photography and traveling take up much of my leisure time.
     Special interests, besides the above, I enjoy going back to school!! (Community education evening classes and summer work-shops of my choosing, rather than those dictated by a school district).
     I have three children, 1 son and 2 daughters.

Dolores Arnold Halvarson

    "Hi" to my classmates of 1951.
     Here I am still full of fun. My accomplishments and goals are just beginning to unfold. Been married for 38 years. Can't account for any slack, I compare it from going to the moon and back.
     I have one son who I thing is really sweet - he in return gave me a grandson - who is almost twice as neat.
     For years I worked with people to keep their happy smiles, now my work involves helping our earth keep in style.

Kenneth E. Ashlock

     Sold cars for many years. Owned a second-hand furniture store from 1983 to 1990. Started an auction in 1988. Sold furniture store and auction in 1990, began working at Weyerhaeuser.
     Favorite pastime is pool.
     Plan to retire in Arizona, in a few more years. Have 8 grandchildren, very important to us.